Apparatus and method for cleaning an ink flow path of an ink jet

Details Apparatus and method for cleaning an ink flow path of an ink jet Apparatus and method for cleaning an ink flow path of an ink jet

1996-07-01

1998-07-28

Le, N.

Incremental printing of symbolic information

Ink jet

Ejector mechanism

347 25, 347 30, B41J 2165

Patent

active

057868298

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus is provided for cleaning an ink jet printhead following a print operation. A housing assembly which includes the printhead is clamped into a fixed position, and a vacuum source is applied to the printhead nozzle face via a resilient sealing cap member. The printhead manifold is connected to a cleaning assembly which circulates a cleaning mixture comprising a cleaning liquid, such as water, and a gas, such as nitrogen, into the printhead manifold. This water and gas mixture is forced through the interior channels of the printhead and out the nozzles carrying ink and particulate matter into a waste receptacle. The flushing procedure continues until all ink is removed from the printhead. The cleaning operation is completely automated resulting in an effective and thorough cleaning operation. Optionally, a second vacuum is brought into close contact with the printhead nozzle face following the cleansing step to remove residual ink from the nozzle face.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4571599 (1986-02-01), Rezanka
patent: 4849769 (1989-07-01), Dressler
patent: 4849774 (1989-07-01), Endo
patent: 5160945 (1992-11-01), Drake
patent: 5210550 (1993-05-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 5257044 (1993-10-01), Carlotta et al.
patent: 5289212 (1994-02-01), Carlotta
patent: 5574485 (1996-11-01), Anderson et al.
Mitchell et al. "Start-Stop Technique for Ink Jet Systems", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 20 No. 1, Jun. 1977.

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